Light-footed Villa Bonh Shows The Beauty Of Simplicity

 

Architecture does not necessarily have to be difficult. A good design that follows the logic of placement and orientation can be relatively basic. This light-footed home by CAS Architecten demonstrates that honest architecture with no bells and whistles may nonetheless result in lovely buildings.

The location, located on a huge parcel in Bonheiden, Belgium, fronts a busy road but gets more calm towards the back with views of grazing sheep and meadows.

The lot is roughly 100 meters long, and at the end, you can see sheep grazing in the meadow behind you. The land was entirely overgrown, but there were some lovely older trees that provided CAS with some much-needed breathing room. 

A totally glass rear façade was an opportunity we could not pass up due to its distinctive north-facing orientation and the wide landscape at the back. A u-shaped floor design with an open patio between the living and sleeping spaces.

A functional hallway connects both purposes, which, despite the courtyard garden, do not interact much. A few barriers are deliberately positioned so that the sleeping room is not visible from the living area. 

CAS rerouted the driveway to be meandering rather than straight to give the front garden greater depth. In the evening, many terraces deep in the garden provide a unique ambiance.

The materiality reflects the lightness of foot, as if it were a stacking of two volumes. The ground floor's supporting base is highlighted by a flat plaster with a concrete appearance. The lower volume on top was attained by the use of wooden cabinetry and paneling.

The difference in the materialization of the two volumes, on the other hand, does not appear to be difficult to distinguish. After all, the light grey plaster has a warm tone due to the ocher subsoil and the employment of a particular sweeping method. As a result, various gradations occur, making the overall effect less flat and more realistic. This, along with the large windows, creates a magnificent harmony.

 Photograph by Tim Van de Velde.